Steep roofs

R

rruuss

Member
I've been in the business now for 5 years here in Ohio and still just part time. Been doing asphalt shingle roofs for awhile but only walkable or ones that are easy access for the pitch witch. This year a doctor wants his house roof done and all 10/12 muti-angled nightmare pitches and he pays really well so I agreed to try to clean the roof. Usually I use Renew which is a SH cleaner for roofs but I can't use it here so I wanted to try what Don Phelps was talking about with the 12.5% Sodium Hypoclorite solution 1:1 and some soap and hopefully beable to get this roof clean without being on the roof. Well easier said then done because I can't fine a distributor or any body in my area that sells 12.5% Sodium Hypoclorite . Am I missing something or because I'm getting so old I'm becoming a complete idiot. Will the pool chlorine that they sell at the building centers give you that that concentration ? Never have used pool chlorine and I need to get it right so I only have to clean it once. Thanks in advance for any input or advice. Russ Webb


Webb's Whole House Wash
937-698-9043....937-623-3188
http://mysite.verizon.net/resro938/
 
The pool chlorine will work just fine if it's fresh. Don't forget to water, water, water, then water some more! :)
 
12.5% Sh

I've had the same trouble. Can't find it in my area... Anyone that can help in Shelby/Charlotte/Gastonia area of NC?
 
I will check that out and see if I can order. But the mix is 50/50 with a soap additive and spray with shur flow give some dwell time then just rinse and fungus is gone? sounds good to me sure would beat working that pitch witch for 3 hours. Russ

Webb's Whole House Wash
937-698-9043....937-623-3188
http://mysite.verizon.net/resro938/
 
Just an update and another big thank you to all that responed. I went to the pool supply in the area got 12.5 % and mixed like instructed and I can not believe the results. We got roofs done in half the time and they look great now I'm wandering if I will ever use the SH cleaner again.
Thanks again Russ
Webb's Whole House Wash
937-698-9043....937-623-3188
http://mysite.verizon.net/resro938/
 
rruuss said:
Just an update and another big thank you to all that responed. I went to the pool supply in the area got 12.5 % and mixed like instructed and I can not believe the results. We got roofs done in half the time and they look great now I'm wandering if I will ever use the SH cleaner again.
Thanks again Russ
Webb's Whole House Wash
937-698-9043....937-623-3188
http://mysite.verizon.net/resro938/
Click to expand...

Another convert!!! Chlorine is the way to go on roofs! Now you can start advertising "Safe, Low pressure roof cleaning"!
 
Be Careful About What You Add To Sodium Hypochlorite ?

rruuss said:
I've been in the business now for 5 years here in Ohio and Usually I use Renew which is a SH cleaner for roofs but I can't use it here so I wanted to try what Don Phelps was talking about with the 12.5% Sodium Hypoclorite solution 1:1 and some soap and hopefully beable to get this roof clean without being on the roof.

Webb's Whole House Wash
937-698-9043....937-623-3188
http://mysite.verizon.net/resro938/
Click to expand...

My advice when using Sodium Hypochlorite is to do what Don said, make sure it's fresh.
Don and I live here in Florida, and our chemical is always fresh, and strong.
Not so we have found in other places.

I agree with the 1 to 1 ratio, especially on a steep roof to compensate for decreased dwell time.

Now, one must be careful just dumping any old dish soap or laundry detergent into the chlorine/water mixture.
Some dish soap contains Ammonia, a big no no to mix with Chlorine!
Better to use an NP 9 type surfactant, or better yet, TSP.

Powdered TSP is cheap, and actually "kicks up" the alkalinity of your solution, for better cleaning, and we have found it to actually reduce the percentage of chlorine we have to use.

It needs to be mixed in Hot Water first before poured into the tank.

We have actually done roofs with, and w/o TSP, and the TSP roofs look better.
TSP is a very potent cleaner, cheap, and actually seems to 'boost" the Chlorine.
Perhaps that is why the Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association recomends it ?

If your equipment will spray up the roof, do it from a ladder.
Or, simply take another good sturdy ladder, and install hooks on it.
Take this hook ladder, and place the hooks over the peak of the roof, and work off of it, if the roof isn't too steep.

I think every roof cleaner w/o a pump that will shoot 20 feet or more needs to have a hook ladder.
Be safe!
Chris
 
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